Tears of a Stranger

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"Adam, I'm scared..."

Amy glanced down at her clasped hands, her gaze fixing on the beautiful diamond engagement ring on her left hand. She was practically shaking.

"I know, sweetie," the tall blond man said softly as he wrapped an arm around her. "But this is for the best, believe me."

They were the sole people in the waiting room at the psychologist's office. Stephanie had gladly given them the night off when Adam had explained their plight as briefly as he could manage.

Somehow, the blond man had finally managed to convince his fiancee to see a therapist. Her condition had been that he accompany her not only to the office, but also be there with her during the session.

The truth was, Adam was nervous as well. Hell, that was an understatement. He was terrified out of his wits. If Dr. Anderson put Amy under in any way, he very well might hear all the gruesome details of what had really happened to her back in late 1998. It was all he could do to keep from throwing up. But again, he knew this was for the best. The redhead needed to be able to remember, as that was the only way for her to deal with it and be able to move on with her life - with *their* life.

The secretary quietly left the reception area and retreated to the doctor's office. A moment later, she emerged and offered them a smile.

"Dr. Anderson will see you now."

The redhead bit her lip nervously as she exchanged glances with the tall blond man. Adam gave her a nod of encouragement as they headed toward the office.

Dr. Sydney Anderson was a bit of a surprise to Adam, as somehow, he'd gotten the impression the therapist was a man. As it was, the psychologist was a young woman who appeared to be a few years older than him.

"Hello," the woman said. She offered them each a smile in turn. "Amy and Adam... Please, have a seat, make yourselves comfortable."

*

Twenty minutes into the session, Adam was rapt, literally on the edge of his seat as he listened. Amy was in a hypnotic trance, Anderson having regressed her back to December 1998.

"Amy, listen to me very carefully," the therapist said softly. "What happened on December 7th?"

"I participated in a live ECW show at the Elk's Lodge," the redhead replied calmly. "Afterward, I go back to the hotel with Dawn Marie and Lance."

"A dead end," the blond man spoke, mostly to himself.

"What about December 8th? What happened that night?" Dr. Anderson inquired.

"We had another show at Elk's Lodge..." the diva answered. "It was a good one. I left by myself instead of waiting for my friends." Her brow furrowed. "I'm walking up a block, and it's so windy and cold... should have brought a scarf..."

Adam frowned as he gazed at her. She was about to reveal some vital detail, he knew it.

"Someone is following me..." she suddenly said, her voice quavering slightly.

"Who is he, Amy? Do you know him?"

"I don't... I *don't* know him," the redhead replied, her eyes squeezed shut.

The Canadian reached over tentatively as though to touch the woman. However, the moment he did so, she recoiled, as though in horror.

"He's got me! He's grabbed me!"

"Oh, my God..." Adam breathed. His entire body felt as though he'd been frozen in the sense that he'd been shut away in a meat locker.

"No! Someone help me!" Amy cried, her voice half-choked as she struggled in her chair. "He's throwing me into his car!"

"All right... Amy, listen to me," Dr. Anderson said as she jotted some notes down on the legal pad spread out on her desk. "It is now a few days later - December 13th. Where are you?"

"In his basement - the same place I've been for six days! I want out of here!" she wailed miserably. "He... he's coming again... No! He's going to rape me again - why won't someone come to help me?"

"Christ..." Adam spat, and all of a sudden, his body felt hot. He rubbed a hand over his face, a feeling of nausea gripping him. So, it was true - Amy *had* been raped... He thought he was going to be sick.

"Amy, look at his face. Does it look familar? Have you ever seen this person before?"

The redhead nodded.

"I've seen him before... At the live shows - at Elk's Lodge. I think he knows Paul E..."

Adam's head shot up. Paul E? Good God, she meant Paul Heyman... Shit... Somehow, Heyman had something to do with this - he'd stake his life on it. He didn't know how the slimy former owner of ECW tied into it - but damn it, he intended to find out.





Part 39

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